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Report of 6th July 2004

03.08.2004 | Off Court

WELCOMING OF SUISSE PEOPLE AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROGER FEDERER FOUNDATION The three weeks we (i.e. Mike Pantsi, president, and Sparks Bulala, project manager of IMBEWU Community Volunteers – South Africa) spent in Suisse was an eye opener for us as members of the management team of IMBEWU in SA; the support and enthusiasm shown by young & old Suisse people in general and in support of Imbewu. We will never forget the generosity of the Suisse people in welcoming us in their country on the 22nd of May, especially those who have been to SA. Ours was to return to South Africa and sensitize the communities and the authorities of this generosity that was benefiting these communities. We saw it fitting to approach the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism to sponsor a welcoming lunch for our many Suisse visitors, as we were informed of their arrival early July in the Nelson Mandela Metro. (i.e.: new administrative entity regrouping the 3 cities of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhague and Dispatch) The event took place at the Port Elizabeth City Hall on the 6th July 2004, eleven Suisse people were welcomed by the Public Relations Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, Miss Phumeza Mgxashe. Mr Mike Pantsi gave the invited guests the overview of the occasion & the picture of what Suisse people are doing in contributing to the Social Development of the Metro. Mr. Claude Meyer thanked for the warm hospitality & gave testimony on why Suisse people were so willing to help based on his experience as a sponsor & being involved in the activities of IMBEWU-Suisse. A number of journalists were invited and were eager to hear about the partnership between IMBEWU & the Roger Federer Foundation, but the best was to be saved for last! Other people invited were: Mr. Sisa Tabata, Spokesperson of the Nelson Mandela Metro and Mr. Mbulelo Gidana, Business Unit Manager of Sport & Recreation of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, who addressed the eleven Suisse people, some actively involved in IMBEWU-Suisse. Mr. Mike Pantsi, president of IMBEWU South Africa, formally announced the partnership of IMBEWU Community Volunteers with the Roger Federer Foundation and urged the guests to give a round of applause! For further details, the media was referred to the Foundation’s website. Another honorary guest was Mrs. Dideka Mhlaba, who represented her husband Mr. Raymond Mhlaba, one of our great South African figures who was also of the trip to Suisse end of May. Our vote of thanks came from our main guest: Mr. Johnny Makgato, member of the Provincial legislature of the Eastern Cape, thanked the sponsors, who had brought their sponsored children to the function; he also thanked the Roger Federer Foundation for choosing IMBEWU, considering the great need in the World today! He thanked Mrs. Lynette Federer for her strong sense of patriotism in remembering her roots. Mr. Mike Pantsi closed the formality and asked the guests to enjoy the afternoon.